Radio Controlled Pulley

ABSTRACT

The Radio Controlled Pulley includes a support line, a platform suspended from the support line, a propulsion system configured to cause the platform to move along the support line the propulsion system affixed to said platform, and having an optional control system for commanding said propulsion system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The applications cited below is the only application related to thisapplication. This application is a continuation-in-part of Utilitypatent application Ser. No. 14/336,478 filed on Jul. 21, 2014 which isitself a continuation in Part of Utility patent application Ser. No.13/490,432 filed on Jun. 7, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No invention claimed in this application was made under Federallysponsored research or development.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to suspended remote controlled transportsystems, including but not limited to systems used for transportingmaterials

2. Description of Related Art

Remotely controlled stationary animal feed dispensers are known in theart. US Published Patent Application 20090020074 by Harmon, U.S. Pat.No. 5,868,101 to Marshall, U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,503 to Hibbard, U.S. Pat.No. 5,438,956 to Thigpen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,732 to Fry, and U.S. Pat.No. 5,370,080 to Koepp exemplify such stationary remotely controlledfeed dispensers.

Mobile animal feed dispensers are also known in the art. U.S. Pat. No.2,316,463 to Skulina is typical of this class of feed dispenser.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mobile andremotely controlled material transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Radio Controlled Pulley comprises; a support line, a platform orsupport means, such as a hook, suspended from said support line, apropulsion system, said propulsion system configured to cause theplatform to move along said support line and said propulsion systemaffixed to said platform, and an optional control system for commandingsaid propulsion system. The control system may be of a type whichpermits an operator to operate the Radio Controlled Pulley from a pointremote from the Radio Controlled Pulley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Radio Controlled Pulley.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with a tool belt.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with a bucket.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with sheet material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Radio Controlled Pulley 1 comprises; a support Line 2, a Platform 3suspended from said support Line 2, a propulsion system, said propulsionsystem 5 configured to cause the Platform 3 to move along said supportLine 2 with said propulsion system 5 affixed to said Platform 3, and acontrol system 4 for commanding said propulsion system 5.

The support Line 2 may be of any material capable of flexibly stretchingbetween at least two support points 6 and supporting the weight of thePlatform 3 and the components placed on the Platform 3.

The Platform 3 may be of any suitable shape and size required toaccommodate a propulsion system 5 and a control system 4 for the RadioControlled Pulley 1. To serve as a Radio Controlled Pulley 1 thePlatform 3 must also accommodate a connection 22 to a general purposecarrier such as a tray 7 or for attaching items for transport 23. Itemsfor transport 23 may be any item or items which may be attached to theconnection 22. Items for transport 23 include, but are not limited totool belts, buckets, and sheet materials.

The Radio Controlled Pulley 1 may be further equipped with any number ofdevices including, but not limited to: television cameras, infrareddetectors, radiation detectors, sound detectors, and vibrationdetectors.

The propulsion system 5 comprises a motor 9, an energy storage system10, a transmission system 11, and optionally a power supply 12. Themotor 9 may be an internal combustion engine using a liquid or gaseousfuel such as gasoline, diesel fuel, propane or any fuel suitable tooperate an internal combustion engine. The motor 9 may be an alternatingcurrent or direct current electric motor. The energy storage system 10may be an electrical battery 13, or a tank 14 of an appropriate type forstoring the liquid or gaseous fuel. In yet another embodiment the energystorage system 10 may be a wound spring 15. In short the motor 9 is anydevice which converts the energy stored in the energy storage system 10to mechanical work used to propel the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 alongits support Line 2.

The control system 20 may be independent of or integrated with thepropulsion system. The control system 20 is controlled remotely, and mayuse a position sensing mechanism such as markings 21 on the support Line2, light sensors, acoustic sensors, or any other means suitable to theparticular application.

The transmission is any mechanism which transmits mechanical energy fromthe motor 9 to the support Line 2 to cause the Radio Controlled Pulley 1to move along the support Line 2. In one embodiment the transmissionsystem 11 would consist of a wheel 16 resting on the support Line 2,connected by a drive belt 17 to a pulley 18 attached to and turned bythe motor 9. In another embodiment the drive belt 17 belt and pulley 18assembly would be replaced by a gear train 19. It will be recognizedthat there are a large number of ways by which the motor 9 can beconnected to a drive wheel 16, or multiple drive wheels, to cause theRadio Controlled Pulley 1 to move along the support Line 2.

One or more tensioning wheels 8 may be included on the side of thesupport line 2 to increase the friction between the drive wheels and thesupport line 2. One or more of the drive wheels and tensioning wheels 8may be provided with treads to increase their grip on the support line2.

The optional power supply 12 is anything which captures or producesenergy and supplies that energy to the energy storage system 10. In oneembodiment this optional power supply 12 is a set of photovoltaic cellswhich supply energy to the electrical battery 13. In another embodimentthe optional power supply 12 is an electrical battery charger which canbe plugged into a convenient power source placed anywhere along the andsufficiently near the support Line 2. It will be appreciated that thisoptional power supply 12 may take on many forms and can be envisionedfor any of the energy storage systems 10 contemplated. This optionalpower supply 12 can be as simple as a slot to accommodate a winding keyfor the spring 15, as complex as photovoltaic cells to charge theelectrical batteries, or anything in between.

The control system 4 may be of a preprogrammed type or of a type whichcan be managed while the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 is remote from theoperator. In both cases the control system 4 interacts with the motor 9,transmission system 11 or both to determine the direction and speed atwhich the motor 9 causes the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 to move along thesupport Line 2. The preprogrammed type provides a means for the operatorto provide control instructions while the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 isclose at hand and the control system 4 then executes the instructionsprovided by the operator. The preprogrammed control system 4 may be assimple as an on-off switch, as complex as a programmable computer, orany level of complexity in-between. The remote control system 4 allowsthe operator to control the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 viaelectromagnetic or acoustic waves. Remote control systems 4 arecurrently available and are available in digital and analogue types andare readily available in modular packages.

The Spektrum Dx5e™ is a 5-channel proportional Radio Controlled Systemis one example, of the many radio control systems currently available.

I claim: 1) A Radio Controlled Pulley comprising: a) A support line; b)A Connection; and c) A propulsion system, said propulsion systemconfigured to cause the Radio Controlled Pulley to move along saidsupport line and said propulsion system affixed to said Radio ControlledPulley. 2) The Radio Controlled Pulley of claim 1 further comprising acontrol system for commanding said propulsion system. 3) RadioControlled Pulley of claim 2 wherein said control system permitsoperation of said propulsion system under control of an operator, saidoperator being located at a location remote from the propulsion system.4) The Radio Controlled Pulley of claim 2 further comprising one or moredevices in addition to said propulsion system.